A Program of Professional Readings for Secondary School English Teachers. Interim Report.

Lindsey, Alfred J.

This study involving 76 English teachers in Illinois high schools with enrollments of less than 350 was undertaken to investigate the use of professional readings for correcting weakness in teacher preparation and for bringing new information to the teacher, to evaluate the effectiveness of these readings on the thinking and teaching procedures of the teachers, and to make recommendations concerning reading programs for teachers. A questionnaire survey listing pedagogical applications of ideas in the articles was administered both before and after the readings were completed. The data indicated a positive change in attitude for 12 of the 40 statements on the questionnaire. The teachers planned 1,295 changes in teaching performance as a result of the readings. Concerning 84 statements of possible pedagogical changes suggested by the articles, each teacher claimed a mean of 13 changes in his teaching due to the articles, and a total of 13 planned changes for the future were listed. These results indicated that professional readings can change teacher attitude and performance, and that a broad program of readings is an effective method in updating English teachers. (Questionnaires, a sample rating sheet for articles, and a list of readings on language, composition, reading and inductive teaching are included.) [Not available in hard copy due to marginal legibility of original documents]. (Author/MP)